Parked at a Volvo cars event, a duo of Ford Transits with a 35 years age gap, give or take a few years. Only a Hymer RV was sitting between the two. Senior is a two-tone, 1983 Transit, transformed into a camper van.
The 1977-1986 series of Transit vans and light trucks was essentially a modernization of the 1965 original version.
The van is powered by a 2.0 liter OHC Pinto engine. Bi-fuel, as it’s also running on LPG. I’m sure the owner has plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, when traveling. Even without a trailer.
With the long wheelbase (300 cm/118.1”) and dual rear wheels, this ‘It’s me – I know’ Transit was the heavy-duty, full-sizer of the family.
Over to junior, clearly operating in another RV segment. Representing the current generation of Ford Transits, yet pre-2020 update, given the grille. It has Luxembourg plates -so I can’t check anything- but it must have a 2.0 liter turbodiesel, purring at the front.
A typical Euro-semi-integrated motorhome, based on Stellantis, Volkswagen (and MAN), Mercedes-Benz, or Ford material.
Cocooning in a Cocoon 463, made by Benimar from Spain. The company was founded in 1974.
For an impression of the interior, you can simply consult YouTube, featuring the latest Ford Transit model.
Now about that Volvo cars event, here’s a sneak preview, with the article’s RVs in the background.
Related article:
CC Global: Ford Transit Mk2 Phase 2 – Mid-Eighties Blue And White Transit Bus
Nice old Transit. The nose on these sure is long, having been extended to make room for the inline engines.
The blue and beige colour scheme on the ’83 Transit, is very reminiscent of the beige accent lower body colour used by Ford, in the ’80s and ’90’s on Eddie Bauer Edition vans and suvs.
I love the old (German) Pinto 2.0 and had several of them back in the day, including a hot rodded version but I just can’t wrap my (American) head around it powering a vehicle obviously designed for a lot of weight, as evidenced by the dual rear wheels. It’s great in a ~2000lb vehicle but I wouldn’t consider it in a 4000lb vehicle let alone something like this loaded to capacity.
Its registered GVWR is 2,800 kg/6,170 lbs.
These were also available with 2.8 and 3.0 V6 gasoline engines. And Australia got a 4.1 liter inline-six, if Wiki is correct.
The diesels were 2.4 liter and later on they got a direct injected 2.5 liter (carried over to the next and all new 1986 gen). Not that it helped much -power wise- but at least there was some grunt at low revs, combined with a better mileage.
The article’s gasoline van is a later import into NL, at which point it probably got its LPG system.